692 
VALVULAR DISEASE OF THE HEART. 
with a similar state of the valves once before. The bicuspid 
valve was likewise diseased, but not to the same extent. The 
semilunar valves on either side of the heart were thickened, 
and the corpuscula Arantii enlarged. There were several 
ecchymosed spots within the ventricles, and also great vas- 
cularity both of the peri- and endocardium. From eight 
to ten ounces of fluid had likewise become effused into the 
pericardial sac. One of the chiefly interesting facts, if not 
the most interesting, connected with this case, is the circum- 
stance that disease of the heart was not suspected during 
life ; for my attendance was requested in consequence of the 
animal being attacked with gastric irritation. 
The patient was a Suffolk cart-mare, in regular work, and 
when left on the night of the 22d instant, with the other 
horses, was supposed to be in perfect health. On the fol- 
lowing morning she refused her food, and appeared to be in 
pain, and when made to move she did so with a stiffness of 
gait, particularly of the hind extremities. At the time I 
saw her, which was at 9'30, she was being led slowly about. 
She was evidently disinclined to walk, and was in a con- 
siderable sweat. As soon as she was set at liberty she 
laid down, turned her head towards her belly, but did not 
struggle. Her pulse was full but soft, and numbered 
between 70 and 80 beats per minute ; the countenance was 
particularly anxious. The breathing was hurried and short, 
and the tongue and mouth very fetid. As I expected, treat- 
ment proved of no avail, the patient dying about 3 o’clock 
on the morning of the 24th. 
Post-mortem i . — On laying open the abdomen, a perfectly 
healthy appearance of the peritoneum was presented, and not 
the slightest blush of redness could be seen on any part of the 
membrane, even when the viscera were turned aside. Indeed, it 
was not until the interior of the stomach was examined that 
a cause for most of the symptoms was to be found. This 
viscus contained a fair quantity of food in an undigested 
state. On its removal, the villous coat was found to be 
intensely inflamed. The depth of the redness varied in 
different parts, and gradually changed to a dirty brown 
colour towards the pylorus ; beyond which no inflammation 
existed. 
This is the only instance of gastritis unassociated with 
enteritis that I have seen. The viscera of the thorax were 
also healthy with the exception of the heart. 
[The disease affecting the valves of the heart essentially 
consisted of a deposition of fibrinc, both beneath and upon 
